Strengthening Cybersecurity: A Priority for Economic Security and Public Services

The security of digital services, the protection of critical infrastructure, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the development of threats were at the center of the first panel of the National Cybersecurity Conference, organized by the National Cybersecurity Authority on November 3, 2026, in Tirana. The panel was attended by the Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, and David Smith, Project Director of the “Advanced Balkan Cyber” (ABCP) project at BAE Systems. Moderated by the Director General of the National Cybersecurity Authority, Bledar Kazia, the discussion focused on the need to accompany digital transformation with investments in security, strengthen defensive capabilities, and prepare institutions and businesses for emerging cyber threats. It highlighted that the expansion of digital services and the integration of systems create new development opportunities, but at the same time increase the number of points that attackers can exploit. It emphasized that artificial intelligence is changing the way cyberattacks are developed and their cost, enabling faster actions with broader reach. Recognizing the resource constraints operators may face, it called for increased attention to security investments and capacity development.